[Hat-Trick]

The bolded parts above were my emphasis-added. I have little doubt that someone in Hagel's camp was behind the anonymous email of Brunings comments in a 1992 UNL student newspaper.

There is a link in the OWH article to Bruning's comments from 1992, which I'm also linking here.

I view this as a great development - Hagel is obviously feeling the heat from a potential Bruning candidacy, and is trying to get this out there early - at least to cast doubt with those who might consider attending Bruning's fundraiser instead of Hagel's.

This is the first I've heard of Bruning's comments on abortion - though I'm not at this point questioning his conservative credentials - as these comments were made as a registered democrat 23 year-old student, prior to switching to the GOP, and contrast starkly with his record in the Nebraska Unicameral and as Nebraska's AG.

[Hat-Trick]

You had asked in a Hagel thread sometime last week if Bruning was a conservative, and I wanted to ping you to this article.

I still believe Bruning is a conservative - he has been very pro-life in fighting Bellevue, NE abortionist LeRoy Carhart's various challenges to state and federal abortion laws.

FRegards,

H-T

[NonValueAdded]

Sounds like Bruning is the wrong horse to back but y’all need to find a replacement for Hagel.

[Cicero]

Let’s get real. If the only way Hegel and the MSM can find to smear Bruning is to say that a 38-year-old man used to be liberal in college, then they are getting pretty desperate and must not have much other ammunition.

I don’t know the man, but if he has had a pro-life record since then, I would be willing to accept it.

We know that Chuck Hagel is simply unacceptable, even as a RINO. He is another Lincoln Chaffee, who has not just voted liberal on a few bills but has gratuitously gone out of his way to undermine the party and President Bush, not to speak of the troops. He MUST be given the boot at any cost.

[YOUGOTIT]

Anyone who runs against Hagel I will donate to. Hagel is one no good anti-American bum who supports the Islamic Terrorist.

[MountainDad]

I heard Hal Daub was thinking about running.

Have you heard anything else about this?

[dalight]

The Hagel camp denied sending the e-mails. A Hagel spokesman, however, described Bruning as a political "chameleon."

Uh. As opposed to the creep weasel Hagel who we know what he will do for sure. Betray the party the country and our soldiers in the field. Duh.. mmm.. hard choice.

[Clintonfatigued]

While I’d like to see Chuck Hagel out of the Senate, Jon Bruning’s Clinton-supporting, Reagan-bashing past reflects badly on him. Perhaps a third candidate needs to jump in and vie for conservative support.

[TheEaglehasLanded]

Can’t Nebraska do better than these 2 and Ben Nelson, this is one of the most Republican states in the country but keep on electing people like Jim Exon, Bob Kerrey, Ben Nelson and Chuck Hagel.

[TheEaglehasLanded]

What bothers me most about Chuck Hagel is the state he is from, he would be in no danger of losing his seat by . Can you imagine a Democrat Senator in any state let alone a state like Vermont or Rhode Island backing President Bush on Iraq.

That’s what Hagel has done, a state Bush got 66% of the vote in 2004 and he is slamming them. These State Reps should tell Hagel we will not support you because you are an egomaniac that uses the mainstream media that hates most Nebraskas to help your career.

[TheEaglehasLanded]

What bothers me most about Chuck Hagel is the state he is from, he would be in no danger of losing his seat by supporting the President let alone that it’s the right thing to do when the Democrats want us too lose. Can you imagine a Democrat Senator in any state let alone a state like Vermont or Rhode Island backing President Bush on Iraq.

That’s what Hagel has done, a state Bush got 66% of the vote in 2004 and he is slamming them. These State Reps should tell Hagel we will not support you because you are an egomaniac that uses the mainstream media that hates most Nebraskas to help your career.